Hey Alesia! I'm glad to hear from you! Isn't that the truth about teenagers!! Champagne taste - beer budget! My poor parents were asking what they wanted for Christmas... it was like pulling teeth out of the kids to get them to come down out of the rafters to give g'ma and g'pa a wish list. If they can't wish for the big ticket items, the only thing they can think of is clothes - and the grandparents HATE buying them clothes or giving them giftcards for Christmas - it's no fun for them that way. I spent an hour and half on the phone with my parents trying to come up with ideas for them. You know it was really freaking me out how many calories I have been getting in too! I too, have been hitting over 2000 cals in a day and was wondering how the heck I wasn't gaining - then I gained 5 pounds!!! But back in my previous life - I would have gained non-stop anytime I took in more than 1200-1400 calories in a day. So mind boggling. It seems like my hold steady range is now 1400-1600 calories a day now. I think part of what made me gain was the choices I was making AND how often I was grazing. There for a while - I was eating anything and everything I could get my hands on - all day long AND until I was stuffed. How stupid is that????? I like how you said it "I am a recovering food-a-holic, a gastic bypass patient" THAT is so true for me too. I was completely back-slid into being my former self - Forgetting all about the behavior modifications I had put the past year into establishing. Thankfully, I realized what I was doing before too much damage had been done. Could you imagine waking up from that spell a year later and after a year of bad habits had wreaked havoc on the body and mind? It would have been another story about a girl who had wls and gained all of her weight back. I don't want to see that happen to me or anyone else. I'll keep posting..... there's strength in numbers .... having a support network of people in the same boat....a community of people like us.... I think it helps. It helps me knowing that there are other people out there like me and I get help and strength from that. I'm not like the "normal stomached" people and I can't behave like them. So I need to fellowship with the people who ARE like me and gain my strength and acceptance from there. Merry Christmas to you too!! Hugs, Pam

"Is anyone alive out there???" I took a break from posting my "behaving like a gastic bypass patient" thread cuz it was lookin like Ginger Locks was a hoggin up the board..... but then..... no one posted Is everyone okay???? Are we just busy Christmas shopping?? Going to parties??? How'z about we all check in ... *sniff* *sniff* I miss hearing from everyone..... Me? Well, I've been doing a lot of Christmas shopping - sounds worse than it really is - it's actually taking me longer this time because I'm trying to stick to a budget and not go overboard. So far, so good. I'm not done. I'm going to brave the crowds Christmas weekend to get the last couple of things (probably gift cards at this rate). I went to another Christmas party tonight. I worked my tail off in the kitchen mostly. I did have a little bit of fun in the kitchen with a couple of friends and a tray of jello shooters.....and a half a glass of red wine - Merlot - my favorite. As far as food at the party - I was fairly good. Not great. I had some ham, meatballs, salami cheese n crackers, a couple bites of lumpia *ouch*, couple bites of marinated chicken skewers, a bite of brownie w/ caramel *ouch*, a cookie...... and LOTs of water. I started feeling so dehydrated. I had worked all day - then stood on my feet for 5 1/2 hours at the party. So - even though i wasn't nearly perfect - I feel a little better knowing that I probably worked every last bit of it off. HOWEVER, I've got 3/4 of a tiramisu cake and a platter of cookies, fudge, rum balls and merange kisses on my kitchen counter now. Thank God for teenagers!!! This is when I need them the most!! My feet and my back are killing me! I was really surprised that I didn't dump on the jello shooters or the wine - but ONE bite of that brownie and owie owie owie!! I did okay with the cookie too. My system modifications will always amaze me and keep my guessing I suppose. But TO THIS DAY I have not found ONE thing that makes me have the potty trots. Not one dag blasted thing. Every once in a while, that might me a nice feature.... ya know? Okay - yeah - I'm tired when I can get all philosphical about poop. Nite all! Check in okay? I want to know how everyone is doing!! Love & Hugs, Pam

Sounds like you are doing much better now! For myself, wellllll......I haven't been the best. Saturday morning I stopped and got donuts for the kids! That was a huge downfall for me. I had 6 of the 12 donuts between saturday and sunday. I never do that kind of crazy crap and eat that many, I don't know what got into me. So I get up this morning thinking I am going to have a great day, behave and have a low carb hig protein kind of day.... I started with a banana before my shower, made a protein shake with a banana after my shower while getting ready for work. Got to work and had the eggs and sausage I made earlier this morning. Was so full I felt like I was going to burst. So I am waiting my time to start drinking my water, instead of drinking the water, I grab a handful of butter cookies (mind you I am stuffed). What the hell was I thinking????? After the cookies, I go for the jelly beans. It like a huge roller coaster once I start, I can't stop. So now I am trying to be accountable for the rest of the day. I packed my lunch and have a good dinner planned. I just hope i can stick to it. Its time for me to be accountable for me. No more excuses. Shelley

Great job Pam!! You did waaaaay better than me today. It was our anniversary (12 years! ), and my gift to my husband was making him a meal~ which I seldom do because I don't cook very much. Too many grabs in the white choc. candy cane Hershey kiss bag. We have company coming this year for Christmas, which we don't normally, so I've been more naughty than usual. But, moderation is the name of the game in my book. I'm still losing a bit, 166 now, hoping someday to make it into the 150's but we'll see. Don't know if that will happen before ps or not. Keep up the wonderful work!! You CAN do it! Hugs, Kerri

LOL! Have a hoot! I have done really good til last night at work!! Set me off for the rest of today! I will start up again tomorrow. Wendy